The 48th Walker Cup Match was held May 8–9, 2021, in the United States at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. It was the first time the Walker Cup was played in Florida. The United States won by 14 points to 12.[1]

48th Walker Cup Match
Logo
DatesMay 8–9, 2021
VenueSeminole Golf Club
LocationJuno Beach, Florida
Captains
United States 14 12 United Kingdom
Republic of Ireland
United States wins the Walker Cup
Location map
Seminole GC is located in the United States
Seminole GC
Seminole GC
Location in the United States
Seminole GC is located in Florida
Seminole GC
Seminole GC
Location in Florida
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2023 →

Format

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On Saturday, were four matches of foursomes in the morning and eight singles matches in the afternoon. On Sunday, there were again four matches of foursomes in the morning, followed by ten singles matches (involving every player) in the afternoon. In all, 26 matches were played.

Each of the 26 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 18th hole extra holes are not played. Rather, each side earned ½ a point toward their team total. The team that accumulated at least 13½ points won the competition. In the event of a tie, the previous winner retained the Cup.[2]

Teams

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U.S. team

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Tyler Strafaci was the first player to qualify for the team, by winning the 2020 U.S. Amateur. Ricky Castillo, John Pak and Davis Thompson were the next players to make the team, as the top three Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking as on February 10, 2021. The remaining members of the team were announced on March 1, 2021. Two alternates for the team were also announced: Mac Meissner and Garett Reband.[3] Reband later decided not travel to the venue and was replaced as the second alternate by Cooper Dossey.[4]

 
Par 4 second hole
    USA
Name Rank Age Notes
Nathaniel Crosby 59 non-playing captain
Ricky Castillo 10 20
Pierceson Coody 2 21
Quade Cummins 16 25
Austin Eckroat 11 22
Stewart Hagestad 17 30 Played in 2017 and 2019
Cole Hammer 14 21 Played in 2019
William Mouw 34 20
John Pak 4 22 Played in 2019
Tyler Strafaci 9 22
Davis Thompson 3 21
Mac Meissner 19 22 Alternate

Great Britain and Ireland team

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The Great Britain and Ireland team was announced on March 30, 2021. Joe Long gained automatic selection by winning the 2020 Amateur Championship. Two more players were automatic selections as the leading two in the World Amateur Golf Ranking: Sandy Scott and Alex Fitzpatrick. The travelling reserves were Jack Dyer and Jake Bolton.[5] Scott later withdrew because of a wrist injury and was replaced by Dyer, Joe Pagdin being added as the second reserve.[6]

 
Hole 7 at Seminole
  &   Great Britain & Ireland
Name Rank Age Notes
  Stuart Wilson 43 non-playing captain
  Barclay Brown 79 20
  Jack Dyer 190 23
  Alex Fitzpatrick 12 22 Played in 2019
  Angus Flanagan 42 21
  Ben Jones 54 22
  Matty Lamb 107 23
  Joe Long 27 23
  John Murphy 114 22
  Mark Power 29 20
  Ben Schmidt 33 18
  Jake Bolton 57 22 Reserve

Note: "Rank" is the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of the start of the Cup.

Saturday's matches

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A number of players from both teams were affected by gastrointestinal illness.[7] As a result, the rules were changed so that if players were unable to compete, the captains could use the two alternates/reserves that were present at the venue. The original players were used in later matches when they became healthy.[8]

 
William Mouw approach shot on 4th hole in Saturday morning foursomes

Morning foursomes

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Mac Meissner, the first American alternate, and Jake Bolton, the first reserve for the Great Britain and Ireland team were used in the morning foursomes.

  &   Results  
Fitzpatrick/Brown   1 up Hammer/Thompson
Power/Murphy    1 up Cummins/Eckroat
Dyer/Lamb   2 up Meissner/Castillo
Flanagan/Bolton    1 up Hagestad/Mouw
2 Foursomes 2
2 Overall 2

Afternoon singles

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  &   Results  
Alex Fitzpatrick   2 up Pierceson Coody
Mark Power    3 & 2 Davis Thompson
Ben Schmidt   5 & 3 Ricky Castillo
Ben Jones   4 & 3 Tyler Strafaci
Matty Lamb    2 & 1 Quade Cummins
Angus Flanagan   1 up Austin Eckroat
Barclay Brown    2 & 1 John Pak
John Murphy   3 & 1 Cole Hammer
3 Singles 5
5 Overall 7

Sunday's matches

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Morning foursomes

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  &   Results  
Power/Murphy    1 up Coody/Pak
Fitzpatrick/Brown   1 up Castillo/Mouw
Flanagan/Schmidt tied Thompson/Hammer
Lamb/Dyer    6 & 5 Hagestad/Strafaci
Foursomes
Overall

Afternoon singles

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  &   Results  
Mark Power   7 & 6 Austin Eckroat
Alex Fitzpatrick   3 & 1 Pierceson Coody
Joe Long    1 up John Pak
Matty Lamb    2 up Davis Thompson
Barclay Brown tied Quade Cummins
Angus Flanagan    1 up William Mouw
John Murphy   2 & 1 Ricky Castillo
Jack Dyer    1 up Tyler Strafaci
Ben Schmidt   4 & 3 Cole Hammer
Ben Jones   4 & 2 Stewart Hagestad
Singles
12 Overall 14

References

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  1. ^ Scrivener, Peter (May 10, 2021). "Walker Cup: US edge GB&I to retain trophy at Seminole Golf Club, Florida". BBC Sport. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Match Format". golfbible.co.uk. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  3. ^ DePasquale, Brian (March 1, 2021). "USGA Names 10-Man 2021 USA Walker Cup Team". USGA. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Romine, Brentley (May 7, 2021). "'All of us are ready to go': Walker Cup rules adjusted after stomach bug runs through teams". The Golf Channel. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "GB&I Walker Cup team announced". The R&A. March 30, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Sandy Scott withdraws from GB&I team". The R&A. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Walker Cup 2021: Several players from both teams hit by food poisoning ahead of biennial contest". Sky Sports. May 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Virus Outbreak Leads to Walker Cup Re-Jig". golfbible.co.uk. May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
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